I realize that the only thing that has been going on around here lately has been posts full of links but until the Freedom decide to let us know who will fill the open roster spots, the links are really all we have. So here we go:
- Q&A with Washington Freedom Head Coach Jim Gabarra – updates us on what the coach has been doing in the offseason.
- Nairn flourishes for PSU – not only is this a feature updating us on Freedom W-League player Christine Nairn’s first college season, it has quotes from former Freedom and PSU player Christie Welsh. I am still waiting for the announcement that Welsh has signed with the Freedom.
- Casey brings the intensity – a feature on Maryland Terrapins senior goalkeeper Mary Casey. I included this link because apparently Casey was recruited by Maryland on the recommendation on Freedom free agent (and Maryland alum) Emily Janss. I wouldn’t be surprised to see Janss wind up with her alma mater as a coach if she fails to catch on somewhere else.
- Abby Wambach and Cat Whitehill called up to WNT December training camp – no big shocker here but it’s nice to see that our WNT stalwarts continue to perform at a top level.
As always, if something happens I will post my reaction to it … but something needs to happen first.
There’s been plenty of good news surrounding the W-League team as it prepares for the Eastern Conference playoffs. The USL has released the playoff schedule, with the Freedom taking on Tampa Bay Hellenic tonight at 5 p.m. in Atlanta. With a win, the Freedom would move to the conference finals to face the winner between the Charlotte Lady Eagles and Atlanta Silverbacks on Saturday at 7:30 p.m.
Heading into the playoffs the Freedom’s Caitlin Miskell was named to the W-League Team of the Week after scoring 2 goals in the team’s 2-0-1 week. Miskell finishes the regular season with 5 goals and 2 assists in 12 games played.
One of the biggest pieces of news concerning the W-League team has to be the performance of Christine Nairn in Wednesday’s U.S. Women’s National Team 1-0 win over Canada. Entering 0-0 game in the 81st minute, Nairn scored the game’s lone goal to win the game. Nairn scored the goal on Freedom WPS keeper Erin McLeod. Nairn, 19, is the youngest player to score a goal for the U.S. since Heather O’Reilly tallied her first international goal at age 17 in 2002.
So … by now you have probably realized that I did nothing of value this holiday weekend since I stayed away from the blog. It wasn’t intentional but it happened so I guess we should just move right along. If you want a recap of the 1-0 stoppage time loss to LA, check out either this recap or this one.
I will say right off the bat that my thoughts and prayers go out to Christie Shaner. You hate to see something like that happen in any game to any player but thus is the nature of sport. I know there is some backlash against Abby Wambach given her recent history but I think to blame Abby is being narrow-minded.
The problem with a new league is that nothing like this has happened before. This is the first time a player has been involved in multiple injury incidents. But if you look at things on a broader scale, you realize this stuff happens. In the NFL, NBA, NHL and even MLB players collide, they get hurt and life moves on. There is a period where the fans suffer because their team lost a player but you know that a suspension is highly unlikely. The injury is just part of the outcome of the game and one of the casualties of the season.
But with WPS this has never happened because this is the first year. Next year, the focus will be more on what could have been if X player stayed healthy, not let’s suspend Y player because she was involved.
Had the injury been a card-earning offense, then we can talk about tactics but since it wasn’t it’s time to move on. So without any more rambling, let’s talk about some good news such as Cat Whitehill getting recalled to the USWNT.
Cat has impressed enough during the WPS season that she is being called back to the USWNT for the friendlies against Canada at the end of the month. While this is good news for Cat, it means the Freedom will be missing her and Abby for the RFK game on July 18 against Saint Louis while the team is in the final stages of qualifying for the playoffs. These RFK games were good in theory but with Abby missing two of the three games there, maybe the execution was sloppy at best. Other storylines to look at with this round of matches are that Abby will try for her 100th career international goal in front of her hometown fans and Christine Nairn (Freedom W-League, Penn State) will be with the team again.
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